Formation and Political Structure of French Indo-China
- Colonial Expansion
- France began conquering Vietnam in the 1850s under the pretext of protecting Catholic missionaries and expanding trade.
- Formation of French Indo-China (1887)
- Combined Cochinchina (South Vietnam), Annam, Tonkin (North Vietnam), Cambodia, and later Laos (1893) into one federation.
- Administrative System
- A Governor-General in Hanoi oversaw the federation, supported by Resident-Superiors in each region.
- Divide and Rule
- France maintained ethnic and regional divisions, weakening unified resistance.
- Limited Local Participation
- Traditional rulers like the Nguyen dynasty in Annam were kept as figureheads under tight French control.
Definition
Nguyen Dynasty
- Vietnamese royal house kept under nominal authority during French rule.
Definition
Resident-Superior
- French colonial administrator in charge of local governance.
The Formation of French Indo-China (1887)
Background and Reasons
- Economic Ambition: France sought raw materials (coal, rubber, rice) and new markets for exports.
- Missionary Protection: The killing of French missionaries in Vietnam was used as justification for military intervention.
- Strategic Rivalry: Expansion was part of France’s effort to compete with Britain in Asia.
- Military Campaigns: By 1883, France had defeated Vietnam’s forces and China’s influence in the region.
- Formal Federation: In 1887, the French government established French Indo-China, centralizing rule under Paris.
Consequences
- Unified French rule across Southeast Asia’s eastern region.
- Established Hanoi as the political center of administration.
- Increased French access to Southeast Asia’s resources and labor.
- Local independence movements were suppressed and censored.
- Created a system that encouraged economic dependency on France.
Economic and Social Impact of French Colonialism
- Export Economy
- Focused on producing rice, rubber, and coal for export to France and global markets.
- Plantation System
- Large estates were owned by French companies; Vietnamese peasants faced high taxes and land loss.
- Infrastructure Development
- Railways, ports, and canals (e.g., Saigon–Hanoi line) were built mainly to transport goods, not benefit locals.
